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Fugitive Task Force

NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) – A man wanted by New York authorities in connection to the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her lover took his own life in northwest Miami-Dade.

Joseph Kernizan, 42, who managed a Haitian music group, reportedly began stalking Tracy Bennett when he found out she was having an affair. Saturday evening he allegedly followed her to a motel in the Bronx where she was meeting up with her alleged lover, 50-year old Wayne Hamilton, a popular reggae singer.

Kernizan reportedly killed them both.

“This individual stalked his ex-girlfriend and this person, he waited outside the motel for them to come out. He didn’t go inside. He waited outside in his car. He blocked their car in and then just opened fire relentlessly,” said Barry Golden with the U.S. Marshals. “There are witness statements that 20 to 30 rounds were fired at the victims.”

New York police and the Marshals tracked Kernizan to South Florida where he has family. They were able determine that he was staying in an apartment complex at NW 2nd Avenue and 157th Street near the Golden Glades interchange.

When they went to the door to take him into custody, Kernizan refused to come out. Three shots were heard from inside the apartment. When they finally made their way inside, they found Kernizan had taken his own life.